Guyana’s female hockey team in search of a semi-final spot at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Vera Cruz, Mexico, made a valiant effort but a draw with favourites Trinidad and Tobago dashed those hopes.

In the cool of the early morning, the two familiar sides took the field to determine who would secure the final spot in the women’s semi-final to face either Cuba or hosts Mexico who had both qualified from Group B.

With Trinidad having greater success in previous matches of the competition, the Guyanese needed a win to make the semi-finals while a draw would suffice for the islanders. The last time the two teams met on the hockey pitch was one year ago in the PAHF Cup in Mendoza Argentina.

Pool rounds results resulted in Guyana and Trinidad having to face each other twice in the competition with Trinidad enjoying victories on both occasions, each by a single goal margin.

Despite the mismatch in their records, Guyana began in an attacking mode as they moved the ball swiftly around the pitch with much more poise and control than they appeared to have in their opening match against the Dominican Republic.

Trinidad, however, soon stamped their authority on the game, creating several penalty corners and opportunities to score. Pan American All Star goalkeeper, Guyanese Alysa Xavier, seemed untroubled by the Trinidadian raids and calmly organised her troops and dispelled all attempts at goal with relative ease.

Xavier’s older sister, Gabriella, made several forays into the Trinidadian scoring circle up the right wing to keep the Guyanese threat alive.

With both teams unable to score before the halftime whistle, Guyana would need to press harder for the win in the second half.

It was the Trinidadians, however, who came the closest in the opening ten minutes when a hard cross from the right found Trinidadian Captain, Patricia Wright-Alexis unmarked on the far post.

Wright-Alexis however swung her first-time shot wide much to the relief of the Guyanese.
Sweeper Ulrica Sutherland was her usual dynamic self throughout the match providing good cover for goalkeeper Xavier with her unmatched speed and fearless tackles.
While the Trinidadians held the edge in possession, Guyanese striker Samantha Fernandes excited the morning crowd with her pace and deception creating a few promising attacks.

The clock would have the final say on the match as both teams failed to make a mark on the score sheet ending in a 0-0 draw.

It was ‘silent’ victory for the Guyanese, although they failed to make the semi-finals, they played above expectations and drew with the defending champions who were ‘leaps and bounds’ ahead of them at the last CAC Games.

In play thus far, Guyana has won one game, lost one and earned a draw in the other.

The result means Guyana will face Jamaica today at 11:00hrs for the placements of 5th through 8th. The other teams vying for these spots are Barbados and Bermuda.

The semi-finals see hosts Mexico playing the Dominican Republic while Trinidad goes on to face Cuba. Ladies matches end tomorrow.